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Having food readily available is almost something we don't even notice. If you've never gone camping, it is not even something you think about. I go to my fridge, or the cabinets and just reach out my hand and the food is there, wrapped nicely and clean.

It's actually a fight to keep it that way. We have an exterminator. I'm a vegetarian so there is no meat grease left anywhere, but my neighbor is a meat eater and if her dishes or stove are not spotless, not only does she have roaches, but they come over here, too. They don't last too long, though; anything that moves is of interest to the cats. They are the terminators here.

Then there are the ants. It is the rainy season now and there are lots of ants. I have to put the cat dishes on top of other dishes filled with water or the ants will take over.

In the big picture, there are many more insects than man. By myself in the apartment, I feel powerful, independent, and in control of my world. That is such an illusion. I am in the minority, and becoming careless, I'd be overrun with weeds, bugs and other creatures that want to survive. There's a Hindu saying: "we are food."

I was listening to Osho on the needs of people: physical, mental and spiritual. Osho said that a starving man is not interested in art; he has to attend to his physical needs. Once those are met, he can then be free enough to develop his intellectual needs, then those satisfied, he can turn his attention to his spiritual needs.

I originally started my working career as an art teacher. I believed and still believe that art is for everyone. Recent studies have shown that art activities in many cases calm people, bring them happiness and satisfaction. You don't have to be a Picasso to be happy doing something artistic.

In Japan, many people pursue artistic activities. I saw businessmen attending flower arranging classes. Children in schools routinely learn origami, the paper art. I felt respected as an artist when I lived in Japan. I wasn't looked at as weird or strange. This was very refreshing for me.

Art classes have happened and more often not been included in our children's education. It all depends on the budget. Too often, it is one of the first subjects cut in school curriculum. Of course, this has long term affects. Children whose parents can afford 'enrichment' studies find private art teachers.

Which brings me to my topic: art is for rich people. Art is actually expensive. The materials. The frames. The entrance fees into shows. And if you are struggling economically, art is the last thing on the list of where your money will go.

Personally, I can attest to the destructive power of economic challenges. It has taken me almost nine months to finally rebuild my client base and start making money again. During these nine months, I felt like a thief had stolen my creativity.

Then again, I came to realize that although I was not making art, creativity was and is still part of my way of life. Using my ability to find a solution to my work situation was part of my success. I've heard people say, oh, I am not artistic. And yes, in many cases that is true. A better way to look at this is to recognize that we can be creative in other ways. Our best resource is still our ability to use our minds and find solutions! Art itself may be for those who can afford it, but creativity belongs to all of us!

I've trained cats to walk on a leash. They hated it. Cpt January was the first. In the beginning, he would like down dead and refuse to move. The other, Puddy, would do the same. Eventually, they got used to it and whenever I would jingle the leash, they were eager to go out. I had told them if they didn't cooperate, they would never go outside.

Recently, I changed my approach. I found this backpack/stroller on Chewey for carrying/transporting your pets. It is the coolest thing. I really needed to get more exercise myself and this was a good excuse. I stuff the furbaby in the container and go out on the property for a stroll.

Of course, they are new to it and sit inside crying. I know they will get used to it. These two furbabies of mine have never been outside. It is time! And I am not just sitting in my corner at the computer. I have joined the pet walkers!!!!

.There was a notice posted at the clinic that they would no long offer opiates for pain to their pain patients, but rather, recommend a pain management option.

This brought up the time I found my neighbor passed out and bloody on his floor. He was an ex-military man and had gotten addicted to pain medication somewhere along the way. His doctor had cut him off from the medication and in desperation, my neighbor began dealing with the thugs in our neighborhood. I guess one day he made some mistake with them and they beat him up. That's how I found him when I came to walk his dog in the evening.

Of course, I called the hospital and had him attended to.

Then, when he came home, he enlisted me to convince another doctor to prescribe the pain medicine.

We have an opiate plague here in South Florida. And part of the problem seems to involve doctors who prescribe these meds, then cut people off.

I find it all amazing. Living with constant pain is really debilitating. Getting addicted from prescriptions is criminal. Having doctors cut you off is criminal. There are alternatives and not just pain management plans. There is such a prejudice against acupuncture which is so helpful. I don't understand. There is such a prejudice against cannabis which is helpful, I don't understand.

When I am faced with a problem, I do look for answers. The internet is very helpful in finding them. We talk a lot about thinking outside the box. I really wish people would.